Name: ______________________________
Period: ______
Date: _______________
Flame Test Lab
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Discussion: When atoms or ions in the ground state are heated to high temperatures, some
electrons may absorb enough energy to allow them to “jump” to higher energy levels. These
excited state electrons are unstable and they will “fall” back to their normal positions of lower
energy. As the electrons return to the ground state, the energy that was absorbed is emitted in the
form of electromagnetic energy. Some of this energy may be in the form of visible light.
Objective: To observe the characteristic colors produced by certain metallic ions when
vaporized in a flame; and to identify an unknown metallic ion(s) by means of its flame test.
Materials and Equipment:
Wooden stirrers
Different ions solutions
Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
V.
Bunsen burner
Beaker of Water
Put on safety goggles and apron.
Go to assigned station.
Light Bunsen burner.
Take a wooden stirrer from metallic ion solution.
Insert into flame. Hold the splint in flame for a few seconds. Do not let splint burn!
Place used splint in water beaker.
Record the color produced by the ion. (Record on data chart)
When instructor announces switch move to next station.
Repeat for all ions.
Data:
Station
1
Compond
KCl
Metallic Ion
K1+
2
LiCl
Li1+
3
CaCl2
Ca2+
4
SrCl2
Sr2+
5
CuCl
Cu1+
6
CuCl2
Cu2+
7
NA
Unknown
Color
Energy
Name: ______________________________
VI.
Period: ______
Date: _______________
Conclusion Questions: (Answer in complete sentences)
1. When an atom absorbs energy, the electrons move from their _________________________
state to a(n) ___________________________ state. When an atom emits energy, the
electrons move from a(n) _________________________ state to their
____________________________ state and give off ___________________________.
2. How could this experiment be used in real life?
3. The alkali metals cesium and rubidium were based on their characteristic flame colors.
Cesium is name after the sky and rubidium after the gem color. What color of light do you
think these metals give off when heated in the flame? Explain why.